Electric water heater



Nov. 16 1926.

C. P. BOUCHER ET AL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER original Filed sept. 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet@ '"1 1770220?! @an 1T 4 EJE attorney Nov. 16 1926- C. P. BOUCHER ET AL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER original Filed Sept. 1. 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 1 /1f ml jzzaazfefli? b? Patented Nov. 16, 1925,

Uhiiltf STATES 1,607,509 FAEN QLFFQF..

CHARLES IHELZFPE BOUCHER- AID FOAD JEAN CH3, GF ENDANA'OLS, NBANA; SAID BOUCHER ASSIG-CB '1"0 ELECTC SUPIPLY OFVIOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND, AND SAID CED ASSGNGR OF @NE-SIXTH TO IVI, ABRAHAM, F

TORONTO, CANADA.

ELECTRC VJACER HEATER.

Application filed September 1, 22., Serial No, 666,611, and in Canada octoberO, 1922. Renewed August rlhe present invention pertains to improvements in electric water heaters ot that type in which a. circulation takes place in the annular space between two concentric tubes.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision ot a device wherein the distance ot fiow through such space may be increased materially without increasing the length of the tubes. A number of tubes ot I0 such concentric set are arranged in parallel and connected at their heads by headers divided into compartments in such a manner that the water is forced to flow through a plurality of said spaces before passing from L5 the inlet to the outlet of the device.

A further feature ot' the invention resides in a novel connection device between the electric switch and the water valve, whereby current cannot flow to the heating coils unless water is admitted into the heating spaces.

The invention is fully disclosed in the tollowing description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section corresponding to the line 1-1 of Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2,-.-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of one of the units;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is still further enlarged detail of a portion ot Figure f1; and,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the valve and switch device.

The device comprises an outer housing or casing 1 ot elongated construction and any suitable cross section. In the ends are fitted headers, the upper one 2 ot which includes a cover 3, a bottom 4, and a peripheral wall 5. riChe lower header 2 is ot Ysimilar construction, including a top 3', bottom t', and side walls 5. The bottom 4; ot the header 2 and the top 3 of the header 2 are apertured as indicated by the numerals 6 and 6 respectively, and a plurality ot outer tubes 7 are supported in these apertures by being secured in any desired manner to the interior wall thereof. The cover 3 of the header .2 and the bottom 4L of the header 2 are is a section on the line 3;-3 of likewise apertured as at 8 and 8 in alignment with the apertures 6 and 6, the latter apertures being of greater diameter than those at the outer extremities ot the header, torthe purpose ot' supporting a plurality7 of inner tubes 9 which are disposed in concentric relation with the outer tubes 7. The annular spaces 10 between the concentric tulfies are relatively very small, being about .O2 ot' an inch in width. The outer tubes 7 are each surrounded by a spirally' wound ribbon 11 ot nichrome,`which is employed the resistance element. The remaining space withinthe casing 1 delined by the headers and the exterior walls of the `outer tubes is illed with an insulating substance which further serves to hold the resistance ribbon in position. it will be observed from Figures fi, 5 and 6 that each spiral ribbon is separated trom immediate contact with the tube which it surrounds by means of an insulating sleeve 13.

V17 ithin the inner tubes 9 are inserted porcelain or similar columns or cylinders 9', the same being' previously wound with spirals of resistance ribbon 11". rlhe annular spaces thus formed with the inner tubes are filled with a refractory substance 12 which is poured in the nature of a paste and allowed to harden.

By way of example, the embodiment illustrated in the drawings comprises five sets, A, B, C, D, E of concentric tubes. The upper header is divided by means of the irregular partitions 14C and 15 into three compartments 16, 17 and 18. The compartments 17 and 18 enclose the tops of B.-D and C-E respectively, while the top of set A is confined wit-hin the compartment 16. The lower header is divided by means ot irregular partitions 14 and 15 into compartments 16', 17 and 18 which are not individually coextensive with the aligned compartments of the upper header. In contrast with Figure 2 or the upper header, it is to be noted that the lower ends of sets'A and D are enclosed within the compartment 16', the sets B and E are confined within the compartment 7', while the compartment 18 encloses the lower end of set C. The upper and lower ends of the casing 1 are'provided respectively with inlet and outlet nipples 19 and 20 which communicate with the corresponding headers, the inle. nipple extending into the compartment 16 and the outlet nipple leading from the compartment 18.

The operation of the device is as follows: Current is supplied to the resistance ribbons, as is already well known in the art. The water enteringI the inlet nipple 19 flows into compartment 16 and downwardly through the annular space a ot the set A, whereby it reaches the eon'ipartment 16 in the lower header'. The water being under pressure trom compartment 16 is forced upwardly through the annular space (l of set D, thus entering compartment 17 of the upper header. Since this compartment also includes the upper end of set B, the water flows down the annular space of the latter and into compartment 17 of the lower header." The flow continues in this manner up the annular space e of set E and down the space c ot set C into the compartment 18 of the lower header which compartment communicates with the outlet 20.

In Figure 7 is illustrated a novel device in which the switch governingl the current through the resistance ribbons is controlled by the water valve for the purpose of preventing a flow of current in the absence of a corresponding flow of water. Tit-hin the casing 21 is disposed a three point switch of conventional construction which is controlled by the knob 22. This casing is located beneath the water valve 23, and the stem of the latter is biturcated at its lower end as at 211 for engaging the knob 22. In the conductor 25 leading from the three point switch are interposed a pair ot contacts 26 normally spaced by means of the spring 27. A bag or bellows 28 is positioned on the spring and is in Huid communication with the valve 23 through the piping 29. The switch and valve are so adjusted that the former is closed when the valve handle 30 is turned. Vater then flows into the bellows 28 increasing the weight o1" the same whereby the circuit is closed through the contacts 26. In case the valve is defective or the main water valve is closed, the bellows 28 will not increase in weight, and consequently the circuit will not be closed. In this way there can be no flow of currentthrough the resistance ribbons in the absence ot a flow of water.

While a speciiic embodiment of the invention has been rillustrated and described, it is to be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as indie-ated by the appended claims.

i Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new and rdesire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A water heater comprising a plurality cit-units, each unit including an outer and an inner tube spaced 'from' one another, head ers at the ends of said units and communieating with the spaces between the tubes of said units, a water inlet formed in one ot said headers, a water outlet formed in the remaining header at a point diagonally opposite the water inlet, a partition in the firstheader forming a compartment including the water inlet and an end of one o'f said units, a. partition in the remainingheader forming a eompartn'ient including` the opposite end ot said unit, and the corresponding end or' an additional unit, a second partition in said last named header torming a compartment including the corresponding end oit still another ot' said units and the water outlet, a second' partition in the first named header including the opposite end of said last namedunit and the corresponding end of still another unit, whereby water can pass from the inlet to the outlet only through all the spaces voit said units.

2. A water heater eomprisinga plurality ot units, each unit including an outer and an inner tube spaced from one another, headers at the ends of said units and communicating -with the spaces betweenthe tubes of said units, a water inlet formed in one of said headers, a water outlet formed in the remaining header at a point diagonally opposite the water inlet, a partition inthe first header forming aeompartment including the water inlet and an end ot one of said units, a partition in the remaining header forming a compartment including the opposite end of said unit, and the corresponding end of an additional unit, a second partition in said last named header forming a com partment including the corresponding end of still another ot said units and the water outlet, a second partition in the iirst named header including the opposite end of said last named unit and the corresponding end of still anotherunit, the partitions in each header being spaced to form additional compartments which contain the corresponding ends of the remaining units, whereby water can pass from the inlet to the outlet only through all the spaces of said units.

8. An electric water heater comprising a plurality of units, each unit including an outer and an inner tube spaced from one another, a refractory column inserted within and spaced from said inner tube, resistance ribbon wound around the column and spaced from the inner tube, refractory material tilling said tube, headers at the ends of said units and communicating with the spaces between the tubes, and partitions dividingr said headers into non-coextensive compartments.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

CHARLES PHILIPPE BOUCHER.

FOUAD J EAN CID. 

